Currently the news is awash with untruthful exploits where misinformation, exaggeration, downright lies and cover-ups have been exposed. While the truth might have been painful or embarrassing originally, the fallout from exposed lies is always 100 times worse.
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The Observer’s recent outing of the alleged untruths in the book ‘The Salt Path’ was staggering to read, and made headlines across multiple media outlets, thanks in part to the premiere of the film based on the book. The protagonists, who had built a sympathetic and loyal following of readers due to their resilience in the face of adversity, were alleged to not only be untruthful, but in the author’s case potentially criminal.
Another key story last week was the publication of the report into the Horizon Post Office scandal, which outlined some of the awful impacts the scandal had had on those involved, including the suicide of at least 13 people. This intensely sad part of this story is just the tip of an iceberg of tragedy which has affected so many, and still lingers on, with hesitation and obfuscation surrounding payouts to victims.
Again, this story started with something going wrong (at a corporate level this time), but instead of facing the embarrassment of a mistake, taking the financial hit and taking responsibility, it was decided to not only lie about the nature of the problems, but also to lay the blame at the feet of innocent people. As the report pointed out, the bosses at the Post Office “maintained the fiction that its data was always accurate.”
The price of what would have been a costly mistake several years ago is now exponentially higher, but moreover, lives have been ruined and lost.
When lies are told, or covered up, the repercussions can be terrible, financially and on people’s lives. And deservedly, reputations can be completely destroyed.
Recent exposure by the Press Gazette into fake commentators and fake case studies underlines the importance of integrity and trust in the PR and media industry too.
Reputations are hard-won and easily lost, and when all is said and done an organisation’s or an individual’s reputation is one of its key assets, with the potential to make or break. Integrity is critical.
Emma Murphy is a Director at Quill PR.